Accessing Financial Aid Self Service Portal

Issue/Question

How do I access financial aid

Environment

• Banner Financial Aid
• Banner Student
• South Dakota System Navigation Access Portal (SNAP)

Cause

Steps to access Financial Aid Self Service Portal.  If you have applied to more than one of the SD Board of Regents Universities, you may receive more than one email.  You will only need to use one of these emails to log into the system.  Once you log into the system, you will be able to see your financial aid information for all Universities. 

Resolution

Note: You will receive an email notification to your BHSU email as well as your FAFSA email when your Financial Aid Offer is ready. You must be accepted by Admissions to BHSU and have a valid FAFSA on file before an Aid Offer can be created. 

Current Students

1. Confirm you have set up your BHSU Account
   1. For information on this step, please visit: https://support.bhsu.edu/TDClient/30/Portal/KB/ArticleDet?ID=74
2. Log into myBHSU Portal
3. Click Financial Aid & Billing
4. Click Financial Aid Self Service
5. Select the appropriate Aid Year in the top right corner
6. Select Black Hills Sate University as your Campus
7. The Home tab houses response questions and requirements
8. The Aid Offer tab contains your Financial Aid Offer
   1. In the top section, you will see your Cost of Attendance elements. 
      1. What is COA?
         • COA is the total estimated cost of attending college for one year. It's used to determine how much financial aid a student can receive and to help a student plan for a college budget.
           •  It includes direct costs that a student will see on a statement like tuition, fees, food, and housing.
           • It also includes indirect costs that are estimates of expenses that are likely to happen that a student will not see on a statement (like transportation and miscellaneous).
         • It’s a broad estimate designed to give a student an idea of the full range of costs associated with attending college.
      2. Why It's Not the Out-of-Pocket Cost!
         • While the COA might seem high, most students don't pay the full amount. An actual out-of-pocket cost depends on:
           • Financial Aid: Scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans reduce the amount a student wiill need to pay.
           • Family Contribution: What a student and family can afford, which might also be offset by aid.
           • Lifestyle Choices: For example, living off-campus or cooking meals at home might lower costs. If approved to live off campus, a student will not be billed for food and housing.
   2. You will scroll down to review and accept or decline the aid you have been packaged.
   3. Click the Submit button in the bottom right corner.
      1. This button is hard to see sometimes depending on your device and browser.

Contact the Student Financial Aid Office with any questions you may have.